Recruiter salary in Baltimore-Columbia, MD
Baltimore-Columbia pays recruiters less than Maryland as a whole but still more than the country. The median is $82,380 a year1: 1.8% below the Maryland statewide median of $83,910 and 8.5% above the US median of $75,940. Nationally that is #21 of 521 areas, in the top tenth. It is the largest market for the job in Maryland: about 7,930 people, 51% of the Maryland total.
BLS occupation 13-1071, area Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Baltimore-Columbia against Maryland and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | $53,820 | $82,380 | $132,620 | |
| Maryland | $54,410 | $83,910 | $139,400 | |
| United States | $47,180 | $75,940 | $128,720 |
The middle half of recruiters in Baltimore-Columbia earns $64,140–$108,950. The top tenth earns $132,620 or more, 2.5 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.7 times. The mean ($89,890) is 9% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is $44,810 wide, between the figure for Maryland ($46,770) and the US figure ($40,770).
What to budget for a recruiter here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $53,820 | $4,485 | $25.88 | $69,445 |
| 25th percentile | $64,140 | $5,345 | $30.84 | $82,761 |
| Median | $82,380 | $6,865 | $39.61 | $106,297 |
| 75th percentile | $108,950 | $9,079 | $52.38 | $140,581 |
| 90th percentile | $132,620 | $11,052 | $63.76 | $171,123 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $18,240 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $26,570, or about $34,284 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $75,940 falls between the 25th percentile and the median in Baltimore-Columbia, and the Maryland statewide median of $83,910 falls between the median and the 75th percentile.
What a hire really costs in Baltimore-Columbia
At the $82,380 median, a local hire costs about $106,297 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $23,917 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for recruiters we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Baltimore-Columbia
Of the 17 roles we track in Baltimore-Columbia, this one ranks #3 by median pay, between accountants ($85,160) and executive assistants ($78,380). Project Coordinator is the highest at $103,720.
| Role | Median | vs recruiter | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +25.9% | 14,700 | |
| Accountant | +3.4% | 13,550 | |
| Recruiter | this role | 7,930 | |
| Executive Assistant | -4.9% | 8,260 | |
| Office Manager | -8.2% | 15,070 |
Measured against the US median, recruiters rank #3 of the 17 roles we track in Baltimore-Columbia (+8.5%), between office managers (+8.8%) and bookkeepers (+5.7%). The typical role here is at +3.5%, so, measured against the US, recruiters cost more in Baltimore-Columbia than the area's general pay level would suggest. Recruiters hold 5.1% of the jobs in these 17 roles in Baltimore-Columbia, 5.0% across Maryland and 5.8% nationally. That is close to the national mix.
Other areas in Maryland
Across the 5 areas of Maryland with data for this job, the median runs from $67,640 in Salisbury to $98,170 in Lexington Park, a gap of $30,530 a year. No other area in Maryland has as many recruiters, and 3 of the other 4 pay less.
| Area | Median | vs Baltimore-Columbia | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lexington Park, MD | +19.2% | 330 | |
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | this area | 7,930 | |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | -5.6% | 510 | |
| Maryland (Nonmetro) | -11.5% | 370 | |
| Salisbury, MD | -17.9% | 230 |
Baltimore-Columbia against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Baltimore-Columbia is #25 of 521 US areas for this job. It is one of the larger markets for this job and one of the better-paying ones. Outside Maryland, Charlottesville and New Haven pay just above Baltimore-Columbia and Santa Rosa-Petaluma and San Diego-Chula Vista just below. All four are within $1,080 a year of the median in Baltimore-Columbia. Of the three markets with about as many recruiters, one pays more.
| Metro area | Median | vs Baltimore-Columbia | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale, CA | +36.1% | 7,970 | jobs | |
| New Haven, CT | +0.2% | 1,230 | pay | |
| Charlottesville, VA | +0.1% | 610 | pay | |
| Baltimore-Columbia, MD | this area | 7,930 | ||
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | -1.0% | 920 | pay | |
| San Diego-Chula Vista, CA | -1.3% | 9,110 | pay | |
| Columbus, OH | -8.4% | 7,740 | jobs | |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | -13.0% | 8,130 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a recruiter in Baltimore-Columbia, MD?
About $106,297 a year at the median, or $8,858 a month: $82,380 in pay plus about $23,917 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for recruiters in Baltimore-Columbia?
Pay here is higher than in three quarters of US areas. The median was $82,380 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $53,820, the 90th $132,620, and the middle half earned $64,140 to $108,950.
Is Baltimore-Columbia cheaper than the rest of Maryland for recruiters?
Yes, it costs less: a median of $82,380 against $83,910 statewide. The next area up in Maryland is Lexington Park at $98,170, the next down Hagerstown-Martinsburg at $77,730.
How many recruiters work in Baltimore-Columbia?
BLS counts about 7,930 in the May 2025 survey. That is 51% of the Maryland total of 15,530. No other area in Maryland has as many.
Does a recruiter cost more than an executive assistant in Baltimore-Columbia?
Yes: $4,000 a year more at the median. The medians are $82,380 and $78,380.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1071: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.